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SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXIV. No. 611. 



number of names included in the book is 

 75,774, which is about 16.6 per cent, of the 

 number of active students. That is, 16.6 

 per cent, of the number of active students 

 have completed one third or more of their 

 courses, as shown by our records. The 

 number of students who have entirely com- 

 pleted their courses, passed their final ex- 

 amination and been awarded a certificate 

 or diploma is 12,143 (up to and including 

 June 27, 1906), or about 2.6 per cent, of 

 the total number of active students. Al- 

 though this percentage may appear low, it 

 should be borne in mind that it will greatly 

 increase from now on. Instead of the 

 schools being fifteen years old, they are 

 really only about eight or nine years old, 

 as measured by the bulk of the enrolments. 

 A larger proportion of students are com- 

 pleting their courses now than at any time 

 in the past. And in consequence of the 

 exceedingly large enrolment at the present 

 time, the number of graduates will increase 

 very materially in the next few years. 



Between February 7 and April 21 we 

 issued over 600 diplomas, an average of 

 240 per month. The average for the same 

 period next year will exceed this, and may 

 average as high as 300 per month. In con- 

 sequence of a falling off in the amount of 

 work received during the hot weather, this 

 average will not be maintained for the 

 whole year; but it is safe to assume that 

 between now and this time next year, at 

 least 2,700 diplomas will be issued. This 

 number will be increased during the fol- 

 lowing year. The percentage of increase 

 in the number of students receiving di- 

 plomas will be far greater than in the 

 number of new students enrolling. This 

 conclusion is justified by the following 

 fact: The book before referred to which 

 contains the names and addresses of over 

 75,000 students is the second edition, and 

 was compiled between May 16 and August 



9, 1905. During this period, the average 

 enrolment was 798,960. The first edition 

 of the book was compiled between January 

 18 and March 17, 1904, and the average 

 enrolment during that period was 642,378. 

 It was previously shown that 16.6 per cent, 

 of the number of active students was in- 

 cluded in the second edition of the book. 

 I have no figures to show the exact number 

 of names excluded corresponding to the 

 40,261 that were thrown out in making the 

 previous estimate, but based on the number 

 of students enrolled during the period that 

 the first edition was being compiled, the 

 number to be excluded would be 32,370. 

 The number of names, therefore, consid- 

 ered in connection with the compilation of 

 the first edition, was 610,000. Hence, the 

 number of active students at that time 

 would be 60 per cent, of this, or 366,000. 

 The number of names given in the first 

 edition was 54,500, or 14.9 per cent, of the 

 number of active students. In the short 

 space of sixteen months the number of 

 persons who had become eligible to have 

 their names inserted in the book had in- 

 creased 1,7 per cent. This is a remarkable 

 showing, and we have every reason to ex- 

 pect that the number of students com- 

 pleting their courses will increase in the 

 same or a greater proportion. 



Some of the reasons why students do not 

 complete their courses of study have been 

 mentioned above. It may be of interest 

 to consider other reasons why they fail to 

 complete their courses. As a rule, if a 

 student has only his own inclination to 

 induce him to devote his spare time to 

 obtaining an education, he feels the need 

 of an education and knows the benefit it 

 will be to him to possess it. At the same 

 time, most persons do not possess sufficient 

 grit and determination to persist in the 

 line of work they have laid out for them- 

 selves, especially when they receive no 



